The cliche in love stories is that the good girl falls for the bad boy who smells of leather and exhaust from his motorcycle, and at the end of the day love conquers all.The stories make it seem so easy. Life, on the other hand, makes it hard. The awful truth is: sometimes love leaves you in ruins. Elias Black may have had a sleeve of tattoos and grown up on the wrong side of the tracks, but he … tracks, but he didn’t have a true bad bone in his body. I loved him from the moment he kissed me, when I knew I no longer owned my heart, until the world pulled us apart.
And then I wanted nothing more than to unlove him, and he wanted nothing more than to unlove me.
I was just a girl who fell in love with a boy who fell in love with me until. . .
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I wasn’t yet half way thru Cards of Love: The Sun, when I started formulating the review in my head. If I were to rename this book it would be: Romeo and Juliet or A Love So Tragic. But those titles are already taken. How is it that some people go their entire lives and never find their “lobster”. They may have been married 2 or 3 times and still never found “the one”. But then there’s Sunny and Elias that don’t look any further. They have each found their true soulmate, but the timing is all wrong and life is totally against them. As I read “The End”, I just closed the paperback and wanted to contemplate, to consider how their story could have been different, better. But the stars refused to aline. There are books that you read, enjoy and love. Then finish and move on, forgetting what you’ve read. Cards of Love: The Sun isn’t one of those books. This one will stick with you, considering Sunny and Elias, her parents and his brothers, Daisy, Brandon and even the beach and how each had an integral piece that made up the final puzzle of this story. This is a story that will touch your soul.
“For what greater punishment is there than to carry a love you can never have?” ….Author, Stevie J. Cole, takes inspiration from the hopeless love affair of the moon and the sun and created a beautiful and poignantly written coming of age love story, with Elias and Sunny. The themes in this book give all the angst your heart could desire and the plot twists to keep you interested. I found Elias’ character to be impossible not to love right from page one, and Sunny to be equally as endearing throughout. Not just another Romeo and Juliet -this book is so, so much more. As well as moving and sweet, it’s also thought provoking and emotionally raw. Don’t wait, read the Sun by Stevie J. Cole today.
Oh what a wonderful Romeo and Juliet type story Stevie has woven.
From the first time Sunny and Elias meet as children – they are drawn together….Sunny is the sun, while Elias is the moon…. and as they are in real lie – the sun and moon are rarely together – always passing each other, but inexplicably drawn towards each other.
Please beware that this is slow burn, and the story happens over many years. What a wonderful story of first love! It brought back all those times of liking a boy and the things that mean so much (the looks, the brief touches, the kisses…..)
Put this book on your must read shelf – then actually read it!
I swear I’m not biased. Hear me out before you judge my version of sloppy tongue kisses.
Cards of Love: The Sun is EVERYTHING!!!!!
Did you hear that- everything!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
It is an epic love story. EPIC LOVE STORY. An epic love story is one that any and everyone can connect to in some way. The Sun is epic. Pardon my slobbery drooling over this book. I get you aren’t there yet but you will be. Elias Black is the dream. ( I know his faults but listen!) He is the broody misunderstood boy of your youth. He is the secret crush you had in second grade. He is the fairy tale best friend turned boyfriend you always wished for. The secret crush on the guy next door kind. (Don’t fib,we’ve all had them.) He is the childhood dreams mixed with hormonal teenage fantasy. But the icing on the cake…his undying, unconditional love. That right there ladies and gents, is some Noah notebook, kind of love.
Epic doesn’t mean painless. It doesn’t mean unicorns shitting glitter. Epic survives. Epic grows. Epic can’t help but love. The Sun is EPIC.
Now that I have explained the epic…
Let me just say that this cast of characters will pull you up by you hands and throw you over their shoulders if you are sinking in the feels. The perfect blend of all the feels to keep it a well rounded story without making you disintegrate into a pile of total ash Voldemort style. (Don’t mistake my comment. You aren’t Voldemort in this scenario, you are going to be Fawkes.) The perky and slightly ridiculous best friend for the win with her antics and general ability to keep you on your toes makes her a priceless part of the cast. But my heart truly goes out to the one who stole it first…
Elias Black. He is, was, and will always be in my heart. The wisdom and love that courses through his young, hardened heart is enough to make this 36 year old beg for her own. ( I would find a way to break it to my husband. P.S. Stop looking at me like I’m a cougar- we are closer in age now that its 2018!)
There are so many incredible quotes that I had to share. I have a freak chat thread dedicated to them but I cannot share them. I almost think it would cheat you out of the feels. So know that if you need to chat and share THE QUOTE that did you in, or the other 600, you marked. I’m your girl. But remember, Elias is mine….but I share him with Sunny.
reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Also I am desperately begging the author to consider Elias Black shirts. Legit, t-shirts that say I <3 Elias Black with tattoo sleeves!!!! Help me make this happen!!!! I'm not above begging!
Now this said it was angst filled but I found it more heartbreaking with a side funny. Guhhhhh I couldn’t get enough and I swear Stevie J. Cole is hands down a phenomenal writer!!! I absolutely love her style and will forever be a new fan!!! I highly recommend checking this story out!!!
A happy, sweet girl with loving parents who wants a brother to play with. A boy who lived in a house where his father broke the toys donated by the church, where fights and shouts were a constant, until his mother leaves, his father is arrested and he and the brothers are in foster care.
And since her parents can no longer have children and wish to help other children, the girl’s dream comes true, and she ends up winning a brother. A temporary family, but that will take care of the boy with much love and affection. And so Sunny knows Elijah. And in the blink of an eye, she realizes that everything she imagined will not happen. Elijah was not what she expected.
The quiet, cocky and sometimes wicked boy in one night will show Sunny who he really is, and from then on they will be inseparable. An innocent, beautiful and pure friendship will be born. Until they will be separated. Only the memories and a ring of moon and sun will remain. Years later, the two will meet at random in a place that has a meaning for both, and all feelings will surface. The two never stopped thinking about each other, they spent years in love. Until a misunderstanding and confusion will separate the two again.
Willing to keep in touch this time, letters are written and the relationship remains. Until a fateful letter, with a short sentence, will break Elijah’s heart. Time passes, and back in the city, the boy Sunny knew certainly is not the same. Elias decided to embrace what everyone was saying about him and really became a bad boy. And with more secrets, things not spoken, threats from Sunny’s father, this couple will have to fight hard if they want to be together. Can the sun and the moon, so opposites, be together? Or are they bound to always be apart?
Prepare the tissues, they will be needed. The Sun is a heavy, dense book, the trajectory of the characters is not easy, too much drama, many hindrances. And one certainty. The golden girl, the good girl, loves with all the heart the bad boy. And he loves her more than life.
Elijah had a very hard life. From an early age he learned that he could only count on himself to raise his brothers. No adult in his family was trustworthy, it was difficult to survive to this point, he did not make the best decisions, but he did his best.
Sunny loves this boy, now a man. But her family is very different from her. Living in a small, religious town, any step is portrayed to her father, the sheriff. It’s hard for her to realize that her parents are human after all. What they preach is not what they really believe, at least as far as she is concerned.
Daisy and Brandon make good characters too, though I think Daisy has made her own destiny. It was very clear what kind of person her boyfriend was. Brandon broke my heart because he could not be himself, could not love freely for fear of others reaction.
Sunny and Elias provoked laughter, tears, grief, and much love. The journey of the two is filled with ups and downs, with much sadness and separation, but in the end love is greater. The end of the characters is bittersweet. It’s very real, it’s not a cliché ending to romance, which struck me. The end stayed with me for a long time, until I could digest. All of them lost and won. Everyone gave up something. Everyone blames themselves for something, some more others less. Happiness is not one hundred percent guaranteed. There are obstacles and losses along the way. Just like real life.
A sensitive, strong book that provoked unexpected and shocking reactions.
I really loved this one. Sunny and Elias made it despite being torn apart for years and so many things against them….they still made it!! It was such a heartbreaking love story. A Romeo and Juliet kind of story but with a HEA! Worth reading!!
Texas Hugs and Happy Reading!
The Sun is an emotional and heart warming story that will remind you of the power of true love. It’s ugly, raw and beautiful.
“After all, the sun and the moon were never meant to share the same sky.”
I promise once you read the book, you will understand why I chose this quote. On surface it makes it look like Elias and Sunny weren’t meant to be together but the truth is that they they do. They are two people who have loved each other since an early age in childhood but life has gotten in the way. It’s up to them to figure out if it’s worth the heartache and pain.
I think what I liked most about this story is just how amazing Elias really is. Sure, he’s the bad boy now but you know, deep down, that he’s the most loving and caring person who has a heart of gold. His love for Sunny is one of those epic loves that everyone is constantly searching for.
If you are looking for epic love that spans from childhood to adulthood then you don’t want to miss out on The Sun. Heads up, because of the nature of the age range and their actions associated with that, you’ll want to smack some people around but in the end you still love them.
4.5 stars
The Sun by Stevie J. Cole was a really nice surprise. I have read a few books from this author and they were typically darker reads. The Sun was emotional, but it was also a story about love, friendship and hope.
This story was a journey. We meet Elias and Sunny as kids and followed them through all the ups and downs and let me tell you, it was quite the journey. They shared such a strong love. They were meant to be together but had so many obstacles to overcome. But through it all, you could see what they meant to each other. It was heartbreaking and sweet all at once.
The Sun by Stevie J. Cole was a touching, emotional and heartfelt story about the strength of love. Two people who were never supposed to be together finding their way. I not only loved Elias and Sunny, but some of the other characters were just as amazing. I great story with all the feels.
~ Liz
This book was soooo good. When I first read the synopsis I knew I needed to read this book!
Elias and Sunny are two characters I won’t forget any time soon. The emotional journey their story took me on, was one where I FELT everything. Their pain, their love, their want for one another. I usually don’t read a lot of YA, but this book had me hooked from the beginning. I’m so glad I gave it a chance.
If you’re a fan of angsty teenage love, this is definitely a book you want to try out!
-J
“I had told him I was too good for him when if anything, that boy had always been too good for me.”
A deep southern coming-of-age that left me simply breathless!!! All the swoons for this one!! From childhood to adulthood they were kept apart, and it guts you to know how deeply they care for each other, and then have to watch them swing in and out of each other’s orbits just missing each other…
“I was the sun and he was the moon and while we may share the same sky during the early hours of dawn, we would never be close enough to matter.”
Tugging on my heartstrings, Sunny and Elias had a love not often found, it seemed to transcend all people, places, and things, but in a super judgy small southern town, the two were never meant to be in everyone else’s eyes. Plenty of hysterical moments with a host of vivid and lovable secondary characters, that I just fell head over heels for!! My heart broke in so many places as they trudged through trying to stay apart, but what came after was nothing short of poignant, emotional, and brought me to tears in the best way possible. This is zooming to my Top Reads of 2018 list and I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!! A simply gorgeous, memorable, uplifting story I won’t soon forget.
“There were not enough days in a lifetime to grow tired of the way he felt like a sunrise and sunset all at the same time, warm and comforting. He was the promise of a new day and the possibilities of tomorrow.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
I absolutely loved this book! Its an enthralling, emotional journey that takes the reader from the very first embers, that sparked in the darkness, to the reality that hits as the years pass by.
Elias is a victim of circumstance. Perpetually put down and despite recognising the light when he sees it, Elias sees no hope in his future.
This story is beautifully written. It’s draws you in through the years and imbeds itself deep within – pulling, begging, wishing for a chance that the star crossed lovers can share more than just dusk and dawn.
Highly recommended!
(Standalone)
“You don’t get to choose who you love” and for Sunny and Elias their love and their destiny was written in the Stars when they were young.
The Sun is a beautiful story about young love. Elias and Sunny were kids when they first met, from different sides of the street and the odds were against them from the beginning.
I couldn’t help but root for these two to somehow work through all of the challenges of adolescence and the baggage of growing up and beating the odds.
Stevie J. Cole did a wonderful job of bringing these young characters to life as they dealt with social issues, friendships young relationships, heartbreak and the hardships of growing up and finding your way.
Life was about stolen moments that harbored no true significance but made you feel alive. – Elias
The Sun is in my TOP reads of all time. Stevie wrote a story that will steal your heart. I asked myself how did I know I love this book, “because there are no words I could use to possible describe it.” And without a doubt, I won’t be able to describe why I love this book so much, at least not in a way that it’ll do it justice. This coming of age story has everything you would want to see: angst, love, hope, dreams, sadness and everything in between. The reader will feel the rawness of her characters, this story, feels real and for me that leaves a mark. It’s the kind of story you don’t want to put down, but when you do, you’ll feel it in your heart and soul. The story was bigger than its characters and when all combined, Stevie put together words that were just plain magical like poetry. I kept flipping page, after page, in awe. She’s hands down one of the most underrated writers. This story crushed me in the best way possible. It had all the feels. If I could give it more than five stars I would.
*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***
4 stars
If you know me at all, you know how much I love and adore anything that is full of angst. What is more angsty than teenage love? I was all in with Elias and Sunny. Their story has everything you would want from teenage love..lots of drama, angst, misunderstandings, secrets, I can go on and on.
The only thing missing for me was more of their story. I wished I could have followed them longer. These are two people whose childhood love actually makes it through, although there are lots of bumps and bruises along the way. (Review by Terri “Jane”)
5+ Stars
I’ve read a few Stevie J Cole novels over the past couple of years and while I enjoyed each and every one of those love stories none of them have moved me as much this book did.
This story was as simplistic as any love story could be and that is what made this so GREAT. It’s a tale of two people that weathered through childhood, adolescence, bias, judgement and overbearing parents. And through it all their friendship only got stronger. Distance nor preconceived judgments could never hold a candle to the truest of loves and that is what Sunny and Elias shared.
Sunny was a character aptly named. Her personality and disposition was a full manifestation of the name she was given. Raised to be kind, caring and good that was who she was her entire life. And giving a foster boy from an undesirable family situation a hand in friendship was what she was raised to do. So she did just that. She became his sun and he, with his dark and broody persona, became her moon.
Elias and Sunny were total opposites, from their upbringing to their personalities, but they balanced each other in a way that no one could see or understand. As the years pass, so much gets in the way of them just being free to be together as friends or anything more. That level of friendship and their connection was bound to strengthen, evolve and become so much more and it did. It was inevitable.
I can’t even describe how I feel right now. I’m truly moved by the characters and their journey to getting the happily ever after they fought so hard for.
This was such a beautiful story!
“Sun and the moon spent eternity chasing each other, one always rose while the other sank on the other side of the world”
This quote excellently define this book.
I can’t find enough words to describe how beautiful, breath taking and heartbreaking that story was.
Sunny-Ray and Elias grabbed me by the heart and never let go. Their story was hard, twisted and emotional as well. It’s about forbidden love between two soulmates coming from different worlds. Sunny was a good girl, from conservative family, Elias was opposite. He has had very hard childhood and couldn’t depended on anyone.
They knew each other whole life and their connection was so pure, but little bit naive at the same time.
In the age of seven, they made pinky promise, that never gonna leave each other, but didn’t realize how life can be cruel.
This story shows that sometimes, childhood love can’t be destroyed, because their love, even was forbidden, it grew stronger. They fought against everyone and everything. Their chemistry was so strong and magnetic. They’ve been drawn to one another and always have had themselves in mind and soul.
Many times my heart was torn.
Everytime they were together I was crying. I don’t know why, but their helpless situation made me vulnerable.
I was wondering how that story will end? I wanted to believe in the happy ever after.
Are they finally going to be together or their true childhood love will be taken away from them?
This is emotional love story which every romance soul must read. If you’re looking for deep feeling and young adult story, just grab that book.
The conclusion of this story is written in this quote
“The sun never sets where it rises…”
An ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow!!!!! What an amazing 6 star story. I started reading it before going to bed and read it in one sitting.
This is the kind of story that sucked me and didn’t let me go until the very end. An amazing storyline with perfectly created characters. Everything was plain perfect.
I could sit here and write for hours on how amazing this story was. I don’t think I could give it enough justice. Trust me this is a must read.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
Light a candle to chase away the darkness. All Elias Black needs to let go of his bitterness and dark stains on his soul and his name, is a ray of sunshine- Sunny Ray Lower.
It’s insta-connection when she sees him for the first time at 8 years of age.
when God made him he wasn’t exactly sure what color eyes a boy named Elias Black should have, so he dipped his paintbrush in a few colors and swirled them all together. Had God asked me, I would have told him to make that boy’s eyes black like his name to match the storm cloud that seemed to live on his face.
A beautiful, very thought provoking story about tender love and Pinky promises that hold these two beautiful hearts together. The world pelts them with arrows of anger, hatred, prejudice towards them, but their souls are locked together like the Sun & Moon on their rings.
The moon and the sun. The first star-crossed lovers doomed to an eternity of almost.
Love triumphs but at extreme cost !!
It’s not just a mere coming-of-age story about pubescent love which takes root in a tree house and ends up in a trailer park. No, it’s more than that. It’s a dialogue that needs to be started about unconditional love amongst Human beings of any gender, race or religion. Could be a pastor’s daughter or sheriff’s daughter. Could be a rich elite kid or one whos been bumping arpund from foster home to foster home. A girl with a heart of gold & water-colored-by-God eyes. boy .or just simply two boys who fell in love.
“You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.” adults keep parroting this adage to kids but they fall short on walking their own talk sometimes.
4 friends, who face daily challenges growing up. High school bullies, mean girls, class divide, popularity contest, cool kids, outcasts and then there’s parties where alcohol dulls their senses and major upheavals happen as a consequence.
My father had forbidden me from being with the person I loved and society had forbidden Brandon from loving the person he wanted to. Life didn’t seem fair. To be honest, the older I grew, the uglier life seemed.
I loved the premise, though I’m not a fan of young HS romances, I couldn’t put the book down. It’s written seamlessly and effortlessly. The language was not unnecessary flowery but was fittingly teenage worthy simplistic. Their young lives had simple problems and easy solutions. There’s loads of teenage drama and inconsequential dilemmas, about hooking up with hottest guy, one upping the meanest girl, making other jealous and eating greasy fries at a local shack or showing up at the happening parties by sneaking out at night.
Out of all the characters Elias and Sunny are extremely lovable. They are a couple bound together by love but set apart by tragedies of fate
“Have you ever wanted something you couldn’t have? Like really wanted it until it ate you up inside?”
In side characters, Brandon touched my heart the most. I cried for him a lot. Beautiful trapped soul just aching to live free.
Good story, beautifully penned by Stevie
4.5 Forbidden stars